the good kind of sore

Monday:

After having the weekend off, I decided to long line Tilly to give her a "stretchy," low stress day.  It was in the 90's around noon and Tilly seemed sleepy.  She was practically snoozing in the wash stall and typically she doesn't like to be tacked there when no other horses are around.  She was snuggley and peaceful.

She worked well and was very active and balanced behind.  Her canter was gorgeous with a nice up-hill jump to each stride. 

When we got back to the barn I treated her to a massage in the stall.  Well actually I just rubbed her forehead at first and then she positioned herself so that I could scratch her right shoulder and then she made those "that's the spot" faces :)  I went and got my little massager thing and entered the stall. 

She's not always great about letting me do stuff when she can move around but today she was leaning into the massager!!  I even put the point of my elbow in a spot and she pushed back against me - she loved it!!  For the first time ever, without being in the cross ties, i was able to stretch her hind legs and back by holding her hind hoof and gently pulling it forward toward her elbow.

 

I looked up this image below because I was interested to see exactly which muscles she seemed to favor and possibly learn what exercises might be challenging her.  She really leaned into the massage right around the point where the Medial Gluteal and Lateral Vastus met, as well as the Semitendinosus.  Based on the reading that I've done, I believe that Tilly is feeling that "good hurt" that happens after working out.  She really made a great effort in her work last week and I'm pleased with how she is progressing!

Tuesday:
Today I gave Tilly quite a bit of freedom in her work.  I wanted to see what she would offer under saddle as I understand how it feels to be a bit sore from working out.

Last week, I was able to do a really great head stand for the first time.  I was completely upright and I had a solid feeling in my arms.  I attached a pic of a correct head stand and one way to set your self up (feet walk toward head until you find balance and lift straight up).

You will see how the arms create a triangular base - this alleviates pressure on the neck.

Shelley spotted me so that I could stay in the position and improve my posture.  I felt strength thrilling in my arms as i elongated my spine and carried my weight completely in my arms!  I think I gained a couple inches in length from the effort and whoa! the next day my latissimus dorsi and obliques reminded me what I'd been working on :)  It felt great!

Back to TNT, I directed her to the same circle with poles that we worked on last week.  She offered transitions within the exercise just as we did last week so I was able to aid with the very slightest shift, such a cool feeling to be so attuned to one another.  She seemed to relish in the exercise and gathered herself together from back to front after only a few circles.  I moved on to big open swinging lateral work.  Leg yield to half pass both directions.  Since she was so perfect in the connection and easy off the leg - I asked her if she could stretch the leg sideways even more.  She kicked out at my leg as if to sass back, "I was getting there!"  Haha, I know everyone thinks it's crazy to ride a horse that is as "opinionated" as Tilly, but she cracks me up!

I only wanted to let her stretch, so we practiced a bit with leg yield or half pass to a medium trot.  I let her go as big as she wanted at the end with some open canter.  She likes when I "ask" for her input on a ride.. it strengthens our partnership and bolsters her confidence.   With a Red Mare that can be even more important than the body building.

Lesson with Laura tomorrow!!

"Woohoo" warm up

I really enjoy the creativity that Tilly requires.  Every time I ride her I have to assess her state of mind and body (as well as my own) while deciding how we are going to warm up.

Several months ago I started with a walking warmup, doing all my lateral work (mostly leg yield and shoulder in/haunches in and renvers) first at the walk and then the trot before lastly cantering.  At that time Tilly was still bucking during the canter warm up and this really helped unlock her hips and back.  Since she was able to feel a release long before cantering, we were able to avoid continuous monster bucks.

I still do this to some extent but after my lesson with Laura on Monday, I've added half pass to the warmup.  This was a great addition as I'm really feeling the swing in our half pass now.  I have a tendency to lock my hips but I can slow down and focus on those blockages at the walk, thereby releasing and allowing Tilly to flow sideways.

By Wednesday, I knew Tilly needed to be entertained a bit since I'd been working really hard on those lateral releases.  My girl loves to gallop so I let her "open up" first at the trot and then in the trot/canter transitions and then at the canter.  I was delighted to feel her come even more through her back as opposed to flattening out in the forward movements.  She stayed perfectly responsive and between my leg and seat, coming right back to collection when I asked.  It was an exhilarating feeling!!!

So I let her go a little bit bigger :D  Tilly absolutely LAUNCHED into her extended canter and as long as she stayed very soft in the bridle and through her topline, I let her keep going.  We did a couple laps around the big jumping ring at Bridlewood... weaving between the jumps... incorporating a bit of bending back and forth to keep her on my leg.  I love feeling her so  joyous in her work.  A little "wooohooo" headshake from Tilly and a huge (i didn't ask) flying change where her signal to come back to collection (and maybe down to earth), which she did right from my seat.  I wish I could adequately convey the freedom and connectedness I felt during that exercise.

I finished the workouts on Wed, and Thurs with Canter/ Walk transitions and by today (Friday) we performed stellar simple changes.  I also found that with our half pass warmup and the extended work together, I had my biggest and easiest half pass yet.  What a fun week of training!

By Laura Klecker

Great Lesson with the Red Headed Mare on Monday.  Tilly is coming along well in her training.  We pushed the limits today and once again have demonstrated that commitment to good basics is endlessly rewarding. Although Catherine and Tilly have not schooled half pass is quite some time, the quality of the movement has improved substantially thanks to Catherine's coordination of her aids, and commitment to helping the mare get stronger in her new uphill balance.   Catherine's hard work with this mare is really paying off.  They are moving along nicely and Catherine and Tilly's communication is developing well.

Clear communication is the key to a solid connection.  Without an elastic and consistent connection, it is very difficult to make a horse more beautiful and fluid under saddle, and that is the purpose of dressage, and hopefully the result of my teaching.  There is little more rewarding than confident communication between horse and rider.

To open up those channels with Catherine and Tilly today I had them ride an exercise of change of bend.  From one side to the other, passing the connection from one outside rein to another.  If you begin tracking left on a 20 meter circle in a working trot, take care to be sure the horse is connected to the outside (or right) rein, as you come off the outside track of the circle, begin a leg yield from your new inside (or right) leg towards the left rein, as the horse goes into the left rein, be ready to receive the energy and move both hands to the right and put both legs on to encourage and send the horse through the channel you have created with your reins.

As you repeat the exercise back and forth, just take care to be fostering the connection you are establishing and able to move it from one side to the other and back to center.

This exercise is what allowed us to move on to our half pass schooling.  Always remember when you move on to something new, old bad habits return, stay patient, and do your best to keep what you have established previously in your ride, if you lose it, step back, reestablish, and try again.  Patience, Practice, and Persistence are necessary to find that feel you are looking for!

Thanks for Including me in this blog Catherine! I'm looking forward to contributing more!